Winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A winding machine, such as a Unifil loom winder, manufactured by Leesona Corporation, Warwick, Rhode Island 02887, has a yarn traversing member releasably threadedly secured to a traverse rod which is reciprocated and rotated to provide a to-and-fro traversing motion and a builder motion to the traversing member and to a yarn advancing through a guide eye of the traversing member as the yarn is wound onto a rotating bobbin. To retain the traversing member operatively threadedly engaged with the traverse rod throughout reversal of the traversing member at relatively high-winding speeds, the traversing member has a pair of threaded jaws releasably held in positive threaded engagement with the traverse rod during winding. In one embodiment the jaws are urged into resilient engagement with the traverse rod in such a manner that should engagement of one of the jaws loosen its threaded engagement with the rod, the other jaw is more firmly threadedly mated with the rod threads. In another embodiment, the jaws are held in operatively fixed relationship with each other when they are operatively threadedly mated with the traverse rod. Upon completion of winding of a bobbin at a predetermined, adjustable position of the traversing member, the jaws are automatically opened to release the traversing member from the traverse rod. A retriever is automatically inserted between the opened jaws and the jaws are then automatically closed onto the retriever and held out of engagement with the traverse rod as a retriever carrier returns the traversing member to its starting point. While en route to the starting point, a cutter is operated to cut the yarn between the traversing member and the filled bobbin which has been doffed. A flap on the retriever carrier clamps the cut end of the yarn from the supply and engages the yarn for winding onto an empty bobbin which has been donned into the winder. The retriever carrier and the cutter are then returned to their original positions and the cycle is completed. Optionally, a tip bunch may be wound on the filled bobbin.

limited Mates Patent Morton [54] WllNlDlNG APPARATUS Robert E. Morton, Warwick, RI.

[73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R1.

[22] Filed: May 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 36,126

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..242/31 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 54/14, B65h 54/36 [58] Field oiSearch... ...242/3l,27, 32, 43, 158, 158.2

Primary ExaminerStanley N, Gilreath AttorneyAlbert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton 1 ABSTRACT A winding machine, such as a Unifil loom winder, manufac' tured by Leesona Corporation, Warwick, Rhode Island 02887, has a yarn traversing member releasably threadedly secured to a traverse rod which is reciprocated and rotated to provide a to-and-fro traversing motion and a builder motion to the traversing member and to a yarn advancing through a guide eye of the traversing member as the yarn is wound onto a rotating bobbin. To retain the traversing member operatively threadedly engaged with the traverse rod throughout reversal of the traversing member at relatively high-winding speeds, the traversing member has a pair of threaded jaws releasably held in positive threaded engagement with the traverse rod during winding. In one embodiment the jaws are urged into resilient engagement with the traverse rod in such a manner that should engagement of one of the jaws loosen its threaded engagement with the rod, the other jaw is more firmly threadedly matedwith the rod threads. In another embodimerit, the jaws are held in operativejly fixed relationship with each other when they are operativelly threadedly mated with the traverse rod. Upon completion of winding of a bobbin at a predetermined, adjustable position of the traversing member, the jaws are automatically opened to release the traversing member from the traverse rod. A retriever is automatically inserted between the opened jaws and the jaws are then automatically closed onto the retriever and held out of engagement with the traverse rod as a retriever carrier returns the traversing member to its starting point. While en route to the starting point, a cutter is operated to cut the yarn between the traversing member and the filled bobbin which has been dofi'ed. A flap on the retriever carrier clamps the cut end of the yarn from the supply and engages the yarn for winding onto an empty bobbin which has been donned into the winder. The retriever carrier and the cutter are then returned to their original positions and the cycle is completed. Optionally, a tip bunch may be wound on the filled bobbin.

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 197

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Now m- 6 wow 3 M AU mm. O 9 N mm o m vm vm AV 5 O 8 on e 9 Mm- S& M 9 N9 mm mm W m. y 9 u 9 L INVENTOR ROBERT E. MORTON Arrokrvsvs Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,645,461

4 Sheets-Sheet .5

. INVENTOR ROBERT E. MORTON 'MZSM ATTORNEYS WINDING APPARATUS This invention relates to winding and, more particularly, to a high-speed winding machine.

DEFINITIONS As used herein the term yarn means any type of strand material, whether textile or otherwise. The term bobbin means any type of yarn package or cop wound so that it may be readily moved from place to place, or a core on which the yarn is wound.

PRIOR ART AND REFERENCE MATERIAL The following Leesona Corporation patents are incorporated by reference: US. Pat. No. 2,614,771, dated Oct. 21, 1952; U.S. Pat. No. 2,638,936, dated May 19, 1953; U.S. Pat. No. 2,763,443, dated Sept. 18, 1956; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,704, dated Mar. 19, 1957. These patents pertain to the Unifil loom winders of which Model Nos. 790 and 791 are of particular interest.

The previously noted loom winder models are substantially identical except that the latter model can handle longer bobbins than the other. The operation of these winders is well understood in the art and is, at least in part, described in the previously noted patents. The entire operation is automatic. Empty bobbins are fed from a bobbin supply hopper and are automatically donned in opposed rotatable chucks. The end of the yarn passes through a yarn guide of a traversing member and is automatically engaged with the empty bobbin which is rotating at about 6,500 r.p.m. during normal winding. A bunch maker causes a bunch to be wound at the foot of the bobbin as the traversing member is reciprocated back and forth by a reciprocating threaded rod to which it is releasably secured. The threaded rod is simultaneously rotated to provide the traversing member with a builder motion. At the end of winding, the traversing member is released from the threaded rod, the filled bobbin is doffed, a new bobbin donned and the traversing member is returned to its starting position to repeat the cycle. Additional details of the above-noted loom winder models will be apparent later in this description.

THE INVENTION IN BRIEF The invention is, in brief, directed to an automatic winder for operation at higher speeds than has previously been practical. As the speed of the winder is increased, for example from the previously noted speed of 6,500 r.p.m. to a spindle speed of 12,500 r.p.m., or more, the reciprocating speed of the traversing member is increased proportionately. Provision is made for positively retaining the traversing member threadedly mated with the rotating and reciprocating traverse rod throughout building of the body of yarn n the bobbin. The traverse rod is preferably hollow to reduce its weight and to increase its rigidity. A tip bunch may or may not be provided at the end of winding as desired. Additionally, an improved mechanism is provided for releasing the traversing member from the threaded rod at the end of winding and for maintaining the traversing member out of engagement with the traverse rod while returning the traversing member to its starting position and again engaging the traversing member with the threaded rod, to repeat the cycle.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved winder.

Another object is provision of a new and improved highspeed automatic winder.

A further object is provision of a new and improved ap paratus for winding a strand to build a wound body on a rotating bobbin or the like, the apparatus including a traversing member for traversing the strand along a traversing path during building of the body and including, a screw for traversing the traversing member to move the strand along the traversing path, the traversing member being operatively secured to the screw by threaded jaws releasably retained in positive opera tive threaded engagement with the screw threads during building of the body, and provision for automatically releasing the jaws from operative engagement with the screw when the traversing member reaches a predetermined position along the traversing path and for retaining the jaws released from the screw until the traversing member is returned to its starting position. Related objects are: provision for urging the jaws into resilient mated engagement with the screw; provision for mounting the jaws for retention of one of the jaws in mated engagement with the screw as another of the jaws tends to move out of mated engagement with the screw, when thejaws are in operative engagement with the screw; alternatively, mechanism operatively fixedly holding the jaws relative to each other when the jaws are in operative engagement with the screw; provision of a track with one jaw mounted for movement about and axial movement along the track, and a second of the jaws mounted for movement relative to the first jaw, both jaws being in mated engagement with the screw during operative engagement therewith; provision of the track in the form of a first rod and the screw in the form of a threaded rod, with provision for rotating and reciprocating the threaded rod to provide a builder motion and a reciprocating motion, respectively, to the traversing member during building of the body with the one jaw mounted for pivotal movement about and sliding movement along the track rod, and a second jaw mounted on the first jaw for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track rod, and provision for urging the jaws into positive operative engagement with the threaded rod. Other related objects comprise provision for releasing the jaws from operative engagement with the threaded rod and including a bar with a noncircular cross section extending between the jaws for camming the jaws apart and thereby releasing the jaws from operative engagement with the threaded rod, and actuating mechanism for rotating the bar from an inoperative position to an operative position for releasing the jaws and including, an actuating unit mounted for movement by the traversing member when the traversing member reaches the predetermined position along the traversing path, to initiate operation of the actuating unit; provision for retaining the actuating unit in a first position during normal building of the body of yarn on the bobbin, the actuating unit being movable to a second position responsive to initial movement of the traversing member at the predetermined position with an abutment member of the actuating unit being movable from a retracted position out of the path of the traversing member to a position for engagement with the traversing member upon movement of the actuating unit to its second position, and the actuating unit further being movable to a third position upon subsequent engagement of the abutment member by the traversing member; the actuating mechanism further including a latch mechanism releasably holding the noncircular bar in its inoperative position, and mechanism responsive to the actuating unit moving to its third position to release the latch mechanism for movement of the bar to its operative position camming the jaws apart to release them from engagement with the threaded rod; provision for selectively providing a tip bunch; provision for maintaining the bar out ofengagement with the traversing member during movement of the traversing member axially of the threaded rod when the traversing member is returned to its starting position; mechanism for returning the traversing member from proximate the predetermined position to the starting position, the returning mechanism including a carrier having a retriever adapted to be received between the jaws to hold the jaws out of operative engagement with the threaded rod after the jaws are released by the noncircular rod, the carrier then moving the traversing member to the starting position; provision for releasing the retriever from between the jaws to permit the jaws to operatively engage the: threaded rod after the traversing member has been moved back to its starting position; and provision for severing the strand before the traversing member is back at the starting position, and for retaining strand operatively associated with the traversing member after the strand is severed and the traversing member continues to be returned to its starting position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of apparatus illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus being shown during an intermediate stage while winding a bobbin, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 22 in FIG. 1, and illustrates a part of the apparatus not shown in FIG. 1 and an additional part for use in winding a bobbin without a tip bunch;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged top view of a traversing member of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, to a reduced scale;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views similar to FIG. 6, but with the traversing member in a progressively changing positions;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing another embodiment of the traversing member;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view illustrating in greater detail actuating and latch mechanisms shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are elevational views similar to FIG. 10, but showing the mechanisms in progressively changing positions;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 14-14 in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the latch mechanism during resetting thereof.

THE WINDER In General Various parts of the winder have been omitted and in some instances no mention will be made of such omitted parts because they are well known from the reference material and are not directly concerned with operation of the portion of the apparatus to be described.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-14 of the drawings, the winder includes an empty bobbin supply hopper 14 (FIG. 1). Bobbin donning apparatus includes a grip arm 15 (FIGS. 1 and 2) pivoted on a rod 16 (FIG. 2) with a return spring 17 secured to the arm 15 and to a fixed pin on the rod .16. A receiver (not shown) is mounted on a rod 18 fixed to a free end of the grip arm 15 for receiving a bobbin (not shown) from the hopper 14. Fixed to the rod 16 are a pair of donning arms 19 (FIG. 2, only one shown) for engaging an empty bobbin on the receiver and positioning the bobbin for winding. A rigid base 20 of the winder includes a casing 22 enclosing drive and control mechanism (not shown) at a rear or inboard end of the base, and a tail stock 24 at a forward or outboard end of the base. The casing 22 and the tail stock 24 are rigidly connected by suitable structural members, as 26. The rod 16 is journaled in the casing 22 and the tail stock 24 and is driven in a known manner by the drive and control mechanism within the casing 22. A butt end 28 of a bobbin core 30 is telescopically received in and frictionally held by a drive chuck 32 connected with a drive spindle (not shown) within the casing 22 and driven by a suitable motor (not shown). The tip end 34 of the bobbin core 30 is received in a freely rotatable outboard chuck 36 (phantom lines in FIGS. 3 and 4) mounted on a shaft 38 telescoped in the tail stock 24 and connected by a push rod (not shown) with mechanism within the casing 22 for telescoping the outboard chuck 36 between positions for holding the core tip end 34 (as shown), and for releasing and receiving a fresh bobbin core. The outboard chuck 36 and its shaft 38 are provided with a spring linkage 38A for urging the chuck inwardly or toward the drive chuck 32. A tab 388 (FIGS. 3 and 4) may be operated manually to retract the outboard chuck 36 for releasing a bobbin.

With the bobbin 3t) rotating, a strand of yarn 39 from a suitable source of supply (not shown) passes over a breakage lever bail 40, to a traversing member 42 and, more particularly, through a yarn guide eye 44 of the traversing member 42, and is then wound onto the rotating bobbin core 30 to build a body of yarn 43 on the core. The bail 40 is fixedly connected to a shaft 45 journaled in the casing 22 and the tail stock 24. The shaft 45 is connected with known mechanism within the casing 22 for shutting down the winder should the yarn 39 break, and carries a bail counter weight assembly 45A.

The Yarn-Traversing Mechanism Mechanism for traversing the yarn is shown generally in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and in detail in FIGS. 5-8, and includes the traversing member 42. The traversing member 42 is mounted on a track rod 46 journaled at its opposite ends in the casing 22 and in the tail stock 24, respectively. The traversing member 42 is releasably secured to screw means, here in the form of a threaded traverse rod 48, which is generally parallel to the track rod 46, and is telescopically journaled in the easing 22 and in the tail stock 24 for rotation and reciprocation by mechanisms known from the reference material and located within the casing 22. The traverse rod 48 is preferably hollow to reduce its weight and to increase its rigidity.

The traversing member 42 includes a plurality of jaws and, as illustrated, a first jaw 52 having a body 54, preferably of nylon, or the like, this body having a passage received by the track rod 46 for pivotal movement about and sliding movement along the rod 46. Extending from the body 54 of the first jaw 52 and under the traverse rod 48 is a finger 56 having on its upper surface threads 58 for threadedly mating with the threads of the traverse rod 48. A secondjaw 60 has a body 62 with cars 64 apertured to receive a pivot pin 66 generally parallel to the track rod 46 and extending through apertures in ears 68 of the body 54 of the first jaw 52 so that the second jaw 60 may pivot relative to the first jaw 52. A finger 70 extends from the body 62 of the second jaw 60 and over the traverse rod 48 and has threads 72 on its underside for threadedly mating with the threads of the traverse rod 48. A guide arm 74 contains the yarn guide eye 44 and is inclined from and rigidly and adjustably connected to the body 62 of the second jaw 60 by screws 76 extending through elongated slots 78 (FIG. 5) in an attaching flange 80 of a guide arm 74 and threaded into the body 62, the adjustable connection providing for accurate positioning of the starting winds on the bobbin core 30. A torsion spring 82 is telescoped about the pivot pin 66 and has opposite free ends 84 seated on the body 62 of the second jaw 60, and a center bight portion 86 seated on the body 54 of the firstjaw 52, for urging thejaws 52 and 60 toward each other.

During winding of the bobbin, the threaded portions 58 and 72 of the jaws are in mated or threaded engagement with the threads of the traverse rod 48 and are maintained in threaded engagement by the spring 82. As the yarn 39 passes through the guide eye 44 and is wound onto the bobbin, there is a tendency, as the traversing member 42 is reciprocated, to lift the second jaw 60 off of the threads of the traverse rod 48, but in so doing the first jaw 52 is urged into firmer mated engagement with the traverse rod 48 so that the traversing member 42 remains in operative threaded engagement with the traverse rod.

Alternatively in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, reference numerals primed refer to the same or similar parts as in the modification described immediately above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3-8. in this embodiment, which is, except as noted substantially the same as the prior embodiment, the jaws 52' and 60' of the traversing member 42' are held in fixed or rigid engagement with each other when threadedly engag- 3 ,b i-i ibi ing the threads of the traverse rod dd. To this end, the jaw fingers 55d and "70 extend outwardly past the threaded traverse rod farther than in the prior embodiment, for a reason which will be apparent later. The finger WT of the secondjaw tail is provided with an adjustable set screw iii and a locltnut MT. The free end of the set screw hit is seated on the top surface of the finger b and may be adjusted to provide any desired firmness of engagement of the jaw threads 5% and 72' with the threads of the traverse rod Tb. A stronger torsion spring $2 is provided in this modification to assure the jaws 52 and bid remaining in fixed engagement when they operatively engage the traverse rod Tfi.

Rotation of the traverse rod 48 during building of the body of yarn T3 on the bobbin core 3d provides the traversing member T2 with a builder motion by progressively moving the traversing member from its starting point at the butt end 28 of the bobbin to a predetermined point proximate the tip 3d of the bobbin. Reciprocating motion of the traverse rod dfi provides the traversing member 42 with a back and forth traversing motion which is considerably shorter than the final length of the wound body of yarn T35.

Mechanism for Terminating Winding:

Actuating Mechanism The predetermined position at which building of the body of yarn T35 on the bobbin core 3b is terminated, is determined by an actuating mechanism fi2 (FTGS. T, 3, and Til-T T) for initiating release of the traversing memberjaws 52 and bill from operative engagement with the traverse rod dd. This actuating mechanism 92 is adjustably mounted relative to the traversing member T2 so that the amount of yarn 39 wound on a bobbin core 3T) may be adjusted, and also to facilitate accommodating different lengths of bobbin cores.

The actuating mechanism 92 (FTGS. T, 3, T and T ll-M) includes a split block 9d telescoped for sliding movement on a rod 96 generally parallel to the track rod 46 and the traverse rod id and fixed to the casing 22 and the tail stock 24. This block WT may be moved along the rod 5% to adjust the predetermined position at which winding is stopped, and is held in adjusted position by means of a set screw '9?) which extends through a cam member Tilt!) and through an outer ear of the split block 9d, across the split in the block and is threaded into an inner ear of the block to hold the block in fixed ad justed position. This adjustment controls the predetermined point at which traversing of the traversing member d2 is stopped. Slidably mounted on the fixed rod 96 is an actuating member, herein the form of a trip plate Th2 having apertured ears Tfil received on the fixed rod as for sliding movement of the trip plate Th2 as limited by the split block Ed and a U- shaped block T66 (FIGS. 4, MT and M). This block has apertured ears ilfiti (FTG. T4) slidably received on the track rod as and clamped in adjusted position by a bolt TTTT threaded through the bight of the block res and tightened against a finger flange TT2 (discussed later) seated on a fiat in the rod T6 to hold the block Tfib and the flange TT2 in adjusted position along the track rod id. The trip plate has a depending ear TM received in a slot TT6 (FTG. 4) in a cover plate TTTT of the base 2T) to hold the trip plate against rotation about the rod as. The trip plate TTT2 is urged toward the split block 94 by a tension spring T24!) secured to the trip plate and to a tab T22 of the cover plate TTfi.

As the traversing member 42 moves to the predetermined position at which winding is to be terminated, an abutment TM (FIGS. T and Til-T3), here in the form of a hardened steel plate, on the traversing members first jaw body 5 3- engages the trip plate Th2 and causes it to move slightly toward the tail stock 2d. After one or more such engagements of the trip plate Th2 by the traversing member 4-2, a finger T26 (FTGS. T, T and Til-T3) is moved from a first step T28 on the trip plate Th2 to a second step we. This finger is fixedly secured to the track rod th by the finger flange TTZ (previously mentioned), and is urged downwardly by a tension spring (not shown) within the casing and acting through a crank arm on the rod db for urging the track rod clockwise. When the finger 12b is on the first step 112T? it engages a lug T32 extending from an abutment member TFT T pivoted to the trip plate TTT2 by a pin Ti'ib generally normal to the fixed rod '96. The abutment member TM is urged upwardly by a tension spring T38 (FIG. Til) connected to a tab TTTT on the abutment member and to the trip plate Th2. When the finger 112d moves from the first step TZTT to the second step TZifi on the trip plate Th2 it releases the lug T32 so that the abutment member TSS T is pivoted upwardly by the spring llfifi, to the position shown in HS. TT. A free end of the abutment member T35 3 now engages the bottom of the traversing members first jaw body 5d (FTG. TT). As the traversing member T2 moves toward the casing 22, the free end of the abutment member T34! is released from the traversing member T2 and springs upwardly (FlG. T2) into the return path of the traversing member and, more particularly, into the path of the abutment T24 on the body 54, of the first jaw 52, to be engaged thereby as the traversing member 42 reverses direction and moves toward the tail stock 24 When the abutment member TFMT is engaged by the abutment T24 on the traversing member 42, it and the trip plate T02 are moved toward the taii stock 24 (left in FIGS. Til -T3) and a pin T M on the abutment member T34 rides on the cam TTTTT to the position shown in FIG. T35, and the free end of the abutment member TM is cammed downwardly out of engagement with the traversing member T2. The cam Tilt) is fixedly secured to the first split block WT by the bolt 93 and by a pin T46.

Thus, the trip plate TTTZ is released from driving engagement with the traversing member which continues to move over the free end of the abutment member T3T (FTG. T3) and toward the tail stock 24 as the trip plate TM. is halted as a tab M7 on the abutment member engages the block T06 secured to the track rod 4Tb. Space limitations restrict the distance the trip plate Th2 can move toward the tail stock 24 when winding a long bobbin and therefore the free end of the abutment member TM is moved out of engagement with the traversing member 12 before the traversing member reaches the end of its stroke adjacent the tail stock 2d.

When the trip plate Th2 is moved through engagement of the abutment member T324 and the traversing member 42, the finger T26 drops from the second step T34) to a third step Tdti (FIG. T3) on the trip plate TTT2 and thus the track rod 46 is rotated slightly (by the spring in the casing 22), causing a fixed abutment pin Tfi'ifi on the track rod 46 to release a latch mechanism T52. The pin ilfifi is adjustably secured to the track rod dd by a split collar T54 (FTG. TTT) telescoped on the rod in and clamped in radially adjusted position by the pin T50 which has an inner end threadedly received by the collar, and a shoulder seated against the collar,

The actuating mechanism 92 and the latch mechanism T52 together provide actuating means for releasing the traversing member 42 from operating engagement with the traverse rod Tb. Release of the latch mechanism T52 causes the traversing members jaws 52 and hi to be released from the traverse rod d8. The accompanying rotation of the track rod Tb initiates the bobbin doffing and donning cycle including gradually braking the driver chuck to a stop, thus stopping rotation of the bobbin.

Latch Mechanism in brief, the latch mechanism T52 (FIGS. T- T, Tfi, T3 and T5) rotates a noncircular (generally rectangular) bar T56 (FTGS. T, 5%, lid and T3) passing between the traversing member fingers 5b and Til and journaled in the casing 22 and in the tail stock Rotation of the bar 1% cams open the jaws 52 and hi) and releases them from operative engagement with the threads of the traverse rod dd.

The latch mechanism T52 includes a latch arm T58 fixed, as by bolts, to and extending transversely from the end of the noncircular bar Tfiti adjacent the tail stock 2d. The arm T58 is urged upwardly from the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 10, by a tension spring 160 secured to the arm and to a fixed bracket 162 (FIG. I) on the winder base 20. (This bracket also supports an end of the hopper 14.) The arm 158 is releasably maintained in a latched position (FIGS. 1 and 10) by a detent 164 pivoted by a pin 166 to a bracket 168 fixed, as by bolts 170, to the base 20 and urged into a latched position by a tension spring 172 connected to the detent 164 and to a tab 174 on the bracket 168. The detent 164 has a nose 176 releasably latched with a cooperating nose 178 on the latch arm 158 when the arm is in latched position.

An abutment 180 on the detent 164 is in the path of the abutment pin 150 on the track rod 46 and, as the finger 126 moves from the second step 130 to a third step 148 on the trip plate, the abutment pin 150 engages the detent abutment 180 to pivot the detent nose 176 out of engagement with the latch arm nose 178, whereupon the noncircular bar 156 is rotated to open the traversing member jaws 52 and 60. Mechanism for resetting the latch mechanism will be described later.

In order to wind a tip bunch (not shown) on the body of yarn 43 proximate the tip 34 of the bobbin core, traversing of the traversing member 42 is stopped proximate the tip end 34 of the bobbin core 30 when itsjaws 52 and 60 are disengaged from the traverse rod 48. To this end, the abutment member 134 on the trip plate 102 extends past the trip plate in a direction toward the casing 22 so that the latch mechanism 152 may be released sufficiently early to allow for its reaction time in turning the noncircular bar 156 to open the jaws 52 and 60, preferably before the traversing member 42 reverses its direction of motion toward the tail stock 24 and starts to move toward casing 22, and, at least, so that the traversing member 42 will move but a short distance from its reversal point toward the casing 22.

In order to manually release the traversing member 42 from the traverse rod 48, a bail 183 (FIG. 1) is pivoted to the bracket 162. One end of the bail provides a handle and the other end is pivoted to an end of a link 183A. The other end of this link is secured by means ofa block 183B to a tab 183C on the trip plate 102. Upon moving the handle (clockwise in FIG. 1) the trip plate 102 is moved toward the tail stock 24 and the latch mechanism 152 is released to open the traversing member jaws.

Movement of the finger 126 to the third step 148 (FIG. 13) of the trip plate 102 and the resultant rotation of the track rod 46, to which the finger 126 and the abutment 150 are fixed, initiates the doffing and donning cycle of the winder through operation of mechanism within the casing 22, in a manner known from the above noted reference material. Upon initiating the doffing and donning cycle, a driver rack 184 (FIGS. 1, l and 15) is operated by the known mechanism within the casing 22. This rack is supported on rollers 186 (only one shown in FIG. I) mounted on the base 20, and is connected with the mechanism within the casing 22 by a rod and pin 188. First, the driver rack 184 is moved slightly toward the casing 22 and then it is extended in the direction of the tail stock 24. As is known from the reference material, the driver rack 184 operates the bobbin donning and doffing apparatus and through drive means including gears (not shown) and pinions 190, two other racks 194 and 196 are driven, as will be discussed later.

Latch Reset Mechanism With reference to FIGS. 1, and 15, the latch mechanism 152 is reset as the driver rack 184 moves outwardly in a direction past the tail stock. The forward end of the drive rack carries a headed pin 198 (FIGS. 10 and which engages a roller 200 (FIGS. 1, l0 and 15) pivoted at the end of a crank 202. This crank is fixed at its opposite end to a shaft 204 journaled in the tail stock 24. The shaft 204 has fixed thereto a second crank 206 and the free end of the second crank is pivoted to one end of a link 208, the opposite end of the link being pivoted to a free end of the latch arm 158 which is secured to the noncircular rod 156, as previously described.

A tab 210 is fixedly secured to the second crank 206 and engages a stop pin 212 (dotted in FIG. 1) and fixed to the tail stock 24 to limit movement of the latch mechanism 152 upon its release, thereby limiting rotation ofthe noncircular rod 156 and resultant opening of the jaws 52 and 60.

As the driver rack 184 moves outwardly it earns the roller 200 upwardly so that the latch arm 158 and the noncircular rod 156 are rotated clockwise, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 10, whereupon the detent spring 172 urges the detent nose 176 (FIG. 10) to its holding position in latched engagement with the nose 178 on the latch arm 158.

Traversing Member Return Mechanism Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, in order to return the traversing member 42 to its starting position proximate the casing 22, after the jaws 52 and 60 have been released from threaded engagement with the traverse rod 48, a retriever 214 is provided. The retriever 214 is mounted on a retriever carri er 216. One of the previously mentioned racks 194 is a retriever carrier rack and is mounted in suitable guides (not shown) and is driven through the previously mentioned gear train and one of the pinions by the driver rack 184, as is known from the reference material. The retriever 214 is pivoted to the carrier 216 by means of a pin 218 for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis and, as will be described later, is positioned to be moved between the open jaw fingers 56 and 70 of the traversing member 42 as the rack 194 causes the retriever carrier 216 to move from the tail stock 24 toward the casing 22. The retriever 214 is received between the jaw fingers 56 and 70 just as the noncircular bar 156 is rotated, during resetting of the latch mechanism 152, to release the fingers which then grip the retriever 214 and are thus maintained out of engagement with the traverse rod 48. The retriever 214 is provided with a wedge-shaped nose 220 (FIG. 3) to facilitate its entering between the fingers 56 and 70 should they for any reason be cocked. Extending from the nose, the retriever has parallel generally horizontal surfaces which are gripped by the fingers, and a stop 222 (FIGS. 3 and 8) to limit movement of the retriever between the fingers of the traversing member. The retriever carrier 216 now slides the traversing member 42 toward the casing 22. The filled bobbin is automatically doffed from the winder by apparatus known from the reference material. In brief, this mechanism causes the outboard chuck 36 (at the tail stock 24) to be moved away from the tip 34 of the bobbin core so that the bobbin may drop into a suitable receiver (not shown). The yarn 39 continues to be retained in the guide eye 44 of the traversing member 42 and is still attached to the doffed bobbin.

As is known from the reference material, prior to actual severing the yarn, a flexible flap 224 (FIG. 3) fixed to the lower portion of the retriever carrier 216 holds the yarn 39 against a generally horizontal plate 226 of the base 20 so that the yarn is retained between this plate and the flexible flap 224 as the retriever carrier 216 continues to move toward the easing 22 and, as will be described later, the yarn is cut. When the retriever carrier 216 is proximate the casing 22, a follower 228 on the pivoted retriever 214 engages a cam 230 fixed to the base 20 of the winder and earns the retriever from between the traversing member fingers 56 and 70 so that the jaws again close and operatively engage the threads of the traverse rod 48. During this time, conventional bobbin core donning mechanism has been automatically operated to donn an empty bobbin core and rotation of the drive chuck 32 (FIG. I) is started by the control mechanism within the casing 22 and the yarn is automatically engaged in prongs (not shown) on the butt end 28 of the bobbin core 30 to start the yarn winding onto the bobbin core.

Yarn Cutter Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the yarn 39 is severed between the traversing member guide eye 44 and the doffed bobbin. A cutter carrier 232 is mounted in a known manner on the previously mentioned rack 196 (FIG. 3) which is driven through the gear train and one of the pinions 190 by the driver rack 1114, to move the cutter carrier 232 from proximate the casing 22 toward the tail stock 24, as is known from the reference materialv As the cutter carrier 232 moves toward the tail stock 24, a scissor 234 (FIG. 4) mounted on the leading end of the carrier receives the yarn 39 between a notch 236 in the generally horizontal plate 226 and the filled and doffed bobbin. Upon continued movement of the cutter carrier 232 toward the tail stock 24, a follower 238 (FIG. 3) on a movable jaw of the scissor 234 engages a wedged-shaped cam 240 fixed to the base of the winder to operate the scissors for severing the yarn.

As is known from the reference material, in order to form a starting bunch, the retriever carrier 216 during its movement toward the casing 22 engages a follower 241 (FIG. 3) on a bunch builder 242. The bunch builder is pivoted on a vertical pin 244 received in a bracket 245 fixed to the casing 22. Upon engagement of the carrier 216 with the follower 241 an arm 246 is cammed from a retracted position to an operative position (phantom lines in FIG. 4) in which a hook 247 at the free end of the arm retains the yarn adjacent the butt end 28 of the bobbin and limits traversing of the yarn during initial traversing movement of the traversing member 42 to assure the yarn end being retained by one of the previously noted prongs (not shown).

Outward movement of the driver rack 164 is now reversed and it is moved toward the casing 22 by the drive and control mechanism within the casing, as is known from the reference material, thus causing the cutter carrier 232 to be moved toward the casing 22 and the retriever carrier 216 to be moved toward the tail stock 24. The scissor is opened in a known manner, and a second retriever follower 248 engages a second cam 250 fixed to the plate 230 and the retriever is thus again positioned to be received between the open jaws of the traversing member 42, as previously described.

Mechanism For Winding Without A Tip Bunch With reference to FIG. 2, when it is desired to wind bobbins without tip bunches, an accessory bracket 252 is attached to the grip arm 15. This bracket 252 prevents the latch mechanism 152 from rotating the noncircular rod 156 to release the traversing member 42 from the traverse rod 48 until rotation of the bobbin has been stopped by the drive and control mechanism within the casing 22. Thus the traversing member 42 continues to traverse the yarn 39 to and fro onto the bobbin, in normal manner, until the bobbin stops rotating, whereupon movement of the traversing member 42 is stopped.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bracket 252 has a yoke 254 received on the rod 16 and secured to the grip arm 15 by a nut and bolt 256. An arm B of the bracket is positioned to engage the latch arm 158 after it is released by normal functioning of the detent 164. The latch arm 158 is rotated very slightly before being stopped by the bracket arm 258, and the traversing member jaws 52 and 60 remain operativelyengaged with the traverse bar 46. After rotation of the track rod 46 has initiated the doffing and donning cycle, in normal course as previously described, the adjacent donning arm 19 causes the grip arm 15 to pivot in normal manner so that the bracket arm 258 releases the latch arm 158, whereupon the traversing member 42 is released from the traverse rod 411. The latch mechanism 152 is then reset by the driver rack 164 in normal manner.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION With yarn advancing through the guide eye 44 as it is traversed to and fro along the bobbin by the traversing member 42 while being wound onto the rotating bobbin, the builder motion resulting from rotation of the traverse rod 48 moves traversing member 42 from its starting point proximate the casing 22 toward the tail stock 24. Also, reciprocation of the traverse rod 44 moves the traversing member to and fro to lay the yarn onto the bobbin. At the predetermined position in this travel, the traversing member 42 engages the trip plate 102 and moves the trip plate slightly toward the tail stock 24. This movement of the trip plate 102 causes the finger 126, which is operatively fixedto the track rod 46, to move from the first step 123 to the second step 131) of the trip plate, whereupon the pivoted abutment member 134 on trip plate 1112 moves upwardly and engages the underside of the traversing member 42. As the traversing member 42 moves toward the casing 22, it clears the free end of the abutment member 134 which then moves upwardly and into the path of the traversing member. When the traversing member 42 reverses its direction of movement-and moves toward the tail stock 24, it engages the free end of the abutment member 134 and moves the abutment member and the trip plate 102 toward the tail stock 24 so that the finger 126 on the actuating rod moves from the second step 128 to the third step 182 on the trip plate 1112. Movement of the finger 126 to the third step 146 causes the track rod 46 to rotate so that its abutment pin moves the abutment on the latch detent 164 to release the latch detent nose 176 from the latch arm nose 176, whereupon the latch arm 156 is pivoted clockwise by its spring 160, thus rotating the noncircular bar 156 which passes between the traversing member jaw fingers 56 and 711 to open the jaws 52 and611 and release them from operative engagement with the threads of the traverse rod 48. Asthe traversing member 42 engages the end of the abutment member 134 and moves it and the trip plate 102 toward the tail stock 24, the pin 144 on the abutment member engages the operativelyfixed cam 1110 and the abutment member 134 is cammed downwardly out of engagement with the traversing member 42 to provide adequate reaction time for the latch mechanism 152 to open the traversing member jaws 52 and611 so that the tip bunch is formed at the desired position on the bobbin, and to limit movement of the trip plate 1112 toward the tail stock within allowable limits.

Rotation of the track rod 46 upon movement of the finger 126 from the second step 130 to the third step 132 of the trip plate 102 also initiates the bobbin doffing and donning operation of the winder whereupon the spindle is brought to a stop. As the driver rack 134 is moved outwardly, the retriever carrier 216 moves from the tail stock 24 toward the casing 22 and the retriever 214 is received between the open jaw fingers 56 and 70 of the traversing member 42. Concurrently therewith, the pin 198 on the free end of the driver rack 184 engages the resetting roller 21111 of the latch mechanism 152 to pivot the latch arm 158 to its latched position whereupon the detent nose 176 latches with the arm nose 178 to releasably hold the arm in latched position, and the traversing member jaws 52 and 60 are released from engagement with the noncircular bar 156 so that they close on the retriever 214. The filled bobbin is doffed from the chucks 32 and 36 and a new bobbin core is donned onto the chucks. Continued movement of the retriever carrier 216 toward the casing 22 clamps the yarn extending from the traversing member guide eye 44 to the fiiled and doffed bobbin between the horizontal plate 226 of the winder base 211 and the flexible flap 224 extending downwardly from the retriever carrier 216..Thus, the end'of the yarn is retained under control after it is severed by the scissor on the cutter carrier 232. Upon continued movement toward the casing 22, the retriever 214 is cammed from between the traversing member jaws 52 and 60 by the cam 2311 and the retriever carrier 216 cams the bunch builder 242 into operative position to retain the end of the yarn adjacent the butt end 28 of the bobbin core 30 and the yarn is gripped by one of the prongs (not shown) about the butt end of the bobbin (which has been started rotating by the driver chuck) to wind a starting bunch on the bobbin core.

Next, as the driver rack 1114 is reversed and moved toward the casing 22, the retriever carrier 216 is moved toward the tail stock 24 thereby releasing the bunch builder 242 which is retained in its operative position a short period of time and is then released, by mechanism known from the reference material, so that normal traversing of the yarn onto the bobbin commences. The cutter carrier 232 and the retriever carrier 216 are returned to their starting positions with the retriever 214 moved by the cam 250 to its starting position, and the entire cycle is repeated.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for winding a strand to build a wound body on a bobbin or the like, comprising means for rotating the bobbin to wind the strand onto the bobbin during building of the wound body, traversing means including screw means and a traversing member for receiving the strand and traversing the strand along a traversing path during building of the body, the traversing member including jaws and means mounting the jaws for movement between securing and released positions and in said securing position in operative engagement with generally transversely opposed portions of the screw means and in the released position out of said operative engagement with said screw means, at least a first of the jaws having means in mated engagement with the screw means when the jaws are in said operative engagement with said screw means, means for operating the screw means to move the traversing member along the traversing path when the jaws are in said operative engagement with the screw means, and means for releasing the jaws from said operative engagement with the screw means when the traversing member reaches a predetermined position along the traversing path, the releasing means including a bar between said jaws, said bar having a noncircular cross section for camming the jaws apart to release the jaws from said operative engagement with said screw means, and actuating means for operating said bar from an inoperative position to an operative position to cam the jaws apart.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said actuating means includes an actuating member, and means mounting said actuating member for movement by said traversing member when the traversing member reaches said predetermined position along said traversing path, to initiate operation of the actuating means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the actuating member mounting means mounts the actuating member for retention in a first position during normal building of the body and for movement to a second position responsive to preliminary movement of said traversing member at said predetermined position along said traversing path and to a third position upon subsequent movement of said traversing member at said predetermined position, said actuating means including an abutment member, means mounting said abutment member for movement from a retracted position out of the path of said traversing member to an operative position in the path of said traversing member to be engaged by said traversing member, and means releasably retaining said abutment member in said retracted position when said actuating member is in said first position and releasing said abutment member for movement to said operative position upon movement of said actuating member to said second position.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the abutment member mounting means mounts said abutment member when in said operative position for moving said actuating member to said third position upon engagement of the abutment member by the traversing member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said actuating means includes latch means releasably holding said bar in said inoperative position, and means responsive to said actuating member moving to said third position to release said latch means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the bar is effectively out of engagement with the traversing member during building of the body. 

1. Apparatus for winding a strand to build a wound body on a bobbin or the like, comprising means for rotating the bobbin to wind the strand onto the bobbin during building of the wound body, traversing means including screw means and a traversing member for receiving the strand and traversing the strand along a traversing path during building of the body, the traversing member including jaws and means mounting the jaws for movement between securing and released positions and in said securing position in operative engagement with generally transversely opposed portions of the screw means and in the released position out of said operative engagement with said screw means, at least a first of the jaws having means in mated engagement with the screw means when the jaws are in said operative engagement with said screw means, means for operating the screw means to move the traversing member along the traversing path when the jaws are in said operative engagement with the screw means, and means for releasing the jaws from said operative engagement with the screw means when the traversing member reaches a predetermined position along the traversing path, the releasing means including a bar between said jaws, said bar having a noncircular cross section for camming the jaws apart to release the jaws from said operative engagement with said screw means, and actuating means for operating said bar from an inoperative position to an operative position to cam the jaws apart.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said actuating means includes an actuating member, and means mounting said actuating member for movement by said traversing member when the traversing member reaches said predetermined position along said traversing path, to initiate operation of the actuating means.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the actuating member mounting means mounts the actuating member for retention in a first position during normal building of the body and for movement to a second position responsive to preliminary movement of said traversing member at said predetermined position along said traversing path and to a third position upon subsequent movement of said traversing member at said predetermined position, said actuating means including an abutment member, means mounting said abutment member for movement from a retracted position out of the path of said traversing member to an operative position in the path of said traversing member to be engaged by said traversing member, and means releasably retaining said abutment member in said retracted position when said actuating member is in said first position and releasing said abutment member for movement to said operative position upon movement of said actuating member to said second position.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the abutment member mounting means mounts said abutment member when in said operative position for moving said actuating member to said third position upon engagement of the abutment member by the traversing member.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said actuating means includes latch means releasably holding said bar in said inoperative position, and means responsive to said actuating member moving to said third position to release said latch means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the bar is effectively out of engagement with the traversing member during building of the body. 